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Welcome to Akasha Sacred Retreats. We host beautiful, healing and heart-opening Ayahuasca and San Pedro ceremonies in South Africa.

 

Ceremonies can be incredibly healing experiences. They are inner journeys of release and discovery in which you may experience deep, physical detoxification, heal from past pain, trauma or other emotional wounds, have profound spiritual insights and connect with multidimensional aspects of yourself and all existence. 

 

Ayahuasca and San Pedro are regarded as “teacher plants”. They are sacred and command deep respect from both facilitators and participants. The intention of participants should be pure and should centre around inner work, healing, evolution and growth. The right intention, attitude and preparation before a ceremony are paramount to the quality of the experience therefore we only work with individuals with certain qualities and criteria which will be determined online interview screening session.

 

 

RETREATS

RETREATS

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Ayahuasca & San pedro
retreats
Jhb
Please inquire for further info

 

 

Length: 3 night retreat

Venue:Johannesburg

Price: -

 

The exact location,itinerary,important dietary prep will be sent to confirmed participants closer to the time.

Join our whats app group to stay posted of upcoming retreats for Johannesburg areas.

https://chat.whatsapp.com/LUB8xwExcz5Ljig55zRgvQ

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Ayahuasca & San pedro
retreats 
Cpt


Please inquire for further info

Length: 3 night retreat

Venue: Cape town

Price: -

 

 

The exact location,itinerary,important dietary prep will be sent to confirmed participants closer to the time.

Join our whats app group to stay posted of upcoming retreats for Cape town areas.

 

https://chat.whatsapp.com/KssLFDeNTx01SbFrPWmaRz

SIGN UP

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Ayahuasca & San pedro
retreats 

Eastern Cape

Please inquire for further info

Length: 3 night retreat

Venue: Eastern Cape (East London)

Price: -

 

 

The exact location,itinerary,important dietary prep will be sent to confirmed participants closer to the time.

Join our whats app group to stay posted of upcoming retreats for Eastern Cape areas.

 

https://chat.whatsapp.com/D989wy5ECicFESpE9ZiSgu

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ABOUT

ABOUT

About Ayahuasca

 

Ayahuasca is a sacred medicine plant that has been used for thousands of years by indigenous tribes of the Amazon jungle. It is an entheogenic brew made from the Banisteriopsis caapivine and the Psychotria viridis leaf. Drinking this medicine can assist those who take it with healing on every level – physically, emotionally, psychologically and spiritually. 

 

There is a lot of information about Ayahuasca online. Here are some of our favourite links that we recommend you visit if you’d like to learn more about this incredible teacher plant.

Reading Material

 

Videos

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About San Pedro

 

San Pedro (also known as Huachuma) is one of the most ancient teacher plants used in the Andes – proof exists that it has been used in ceremonies for more than 5000 years. It is made from the Trichocereus Pachanoicactus and can be ingested as a powder or gelatinous brew. 

 

The effects of San Pedro take longer to arrive than Ayahuasca and the peak of the effect is generally reached only after 3 or 4 hours with the whole ceremony generally lasting 7 to 12 hours. 

 

San Pedro is a masculine plant, it is taken during the day and it establishes a powerful connection with nature, hence why it’s often good to take it the morning after an Ayahuasca night as these two energies balance each other beautifully. 

 

San Pedro is very good for focusing intention, learning to meditate, grounding, setting boundaries and channelling masculine energy. It is normally used for physical, mental, emotional and spiritual healing and can shift the spiritual frequency of the participant to a higher level, changing the quality of his/her reality. 

 

To find out more about San Pedro, please visit some of the sites below:

Reading Material

 

Videos

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About Our Retreats

Akasha hosts Ayahuasca and San Pedro retreats at various venues and dates across the country.

Ayahuasca and San Pedro should be taken in a group setting under experienced supervision. The facilitator will prepare the brew, run the ceremony and hold space during your journey and hence he/she is incredibly critical to the whole experience. 

 

Retreats may vary in length from 2 night/day to 3 nights/days and may include Ayahuasca, San Pedro or both medicines.

 

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FACILITATOR

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Lukasz Staszak

Lukasz’s journey with sacred plant medicines began in 2009 with his own personal healing at a time when he needed it most. Amazed by his own results and the results of those around him, he felt a calling to start working with the plants and soon became an apprentice and assistant to various facilitators in the country. In 2013, drawn further by this call, he travelled to Peru to be initiated and receive intensive training studying the science of Shipibo Curanderismo (Plant Spirit Healing) with the indigenous Shipibo tribe of the Amazon.

 

Since his return to South Africa, Lukasz has been facilitating Ayahuasca and San Pedro retreats in traditional indigenous ceremonial style consisting of specific healing songs from the Shipibo language (Icaros) as well as musical elements such as chanting, sound alchemy, channelling and various traditional instruments. He also incorporates meditation, breathing and other techniques into his ceremonies thereby creating a beautiful sacred space, one of integrity, healing and spiritual inspiration. He is one of the most sought after facilitators in the country and his humble and caring nature make everyone feel very safe and taken care of during his ceremonies.

FACILITATORS

TESTIMONIALS

Jack, Johannesburg

"I wasn't sure what to expect. All I had were the stories from other people. Through all the experiences I felt safe and in letting my walls down, I got a much better understanding of myself and a sense of peace. I left with a great new perspective of life and a renewed understanding of what is truly important to me. This as one of the best experiences of my life and for this, I will forever be grateful."

Ricky, Pretoria

"I feel blessed and honoured to have experienced such a weekend. Would I recommend it? Absolutely! Would I do it again? Absolutely! I'm still digesting, assimilating and processing the delightful morsels fed to me. It's like I have padkos for the soul."

Chantal, Johannesburg

"An Ayahuasca experience is hard to put into words. What we talk about daily are things that we perceive with our five senses but an Ayahuasca ceremony is different to anything we've ever lived on earth so words seem very poor means of explaining the experience. But in summary, what I have gotten out of Ayahuasca is nothing short of magical. From showing me the meaning of life and our purpose on earth to healing broken relationships and physical ailments, I honesty cannot be more thankful to this plant for what it has done for me. I think the entire world should do this at least once."

Skye, Cape Town

“Lukasz and Ayahuasca have cured my depression in a textbook case of plant medicine at its finest. I was verging death when I first went to ceremony and only after did Lukasz tell me that he could see that on my face. I hadn’t told him, or anyone I was going to die by my own hand. It was the dramatic, life saving shift I needed. I still practice the integration of my learnings and continue to make progress. This is a life-changing experience that you will leave from as a different, better person.”

TESTIMONIALS

FAQ'S

FAQ'S
  • What benefits can I expect from Ayahuasca?
    The effects and benefits of Ayahuasca vary greatly from person to person. No two ceremonies are ever the same and no two people ever have the same experience. Having said that, most people will experience insights and healing on various levels. Many have cosmic spiritual connections. Because Ayahuasca works on every level (physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual), you could experience one or some of the following: Physical detox and healing of physical conditions and traumas Rapid emotional processing and healing Personal insight to destructive patterns, habits and behaviours Release of negative psychological programmes or illnesses Healing of anxiety and depression-related illnesses Spiritual awakening, expanded consciousness and spiritual connection Connection with multidimensional aspects of yourself and all existence Heightened level of awareness of who you really are and all that is It’s important to remember that Ayahuasca will always give you exactly what you need, and that sometimes, this may be completely different to what you think you need. Thus, it’s important to let go of any expectation, as Ayahuasca journeys are not something that the participant can control or direct. Rather, it is in the letting go and allowing the plant to guide you that the magic emerges.
  • What happens during an Ayahuasca ceremony?
    Ayahuasca is considered a female plant and you may feel its feminine energy during your journey. It is traditionally taken at night in a group setting and facilitated by a shaman/curandero/ayahuasquero. The evening will start by the facilitator explaining how the procedures of the evening will run and a bit about what you can expect. After this, each person will take the medicine and lie down on a mattress in the room. The facilitator will then hold space by singing sacred icaros,playing instruments and performing rituals to enhance the energy of the space. Each ceremony is different and each person is different to the next. However, some common reactions to the medicine are: Physically, you may experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, sighing, crying or laughing. Vomiting – or purging – is quite common (and desirable). It releases energy blockages in your body and is very healing on many levels. You may feel energy moving through your body and in the room. You may feel cold at the beginning and perhaps hot later on. You may see visions of varying intensity, often kaleidoscope-like. These visions can be quite beautiful or quite terrifying. It is important to let go and trust that the plant is doing its work during this time. Insights and learnings may come to you by way of intuition. You may feel, know and understand things automatically or through metaphoric interpretation. You may visit other dimensions, other versions of yourself and understand some of the deeper questions about life, its meaning and all that is. Or… nothing may happen at all. If after two hours or so, nothing has happened, some facilitators may offer a second dose of the medicine. Sometimes the ego or the mind can stand in the way of our journey. The best you can do is lie back in trust, try and stop all thinking and let your heart do the journeying. Whatever comes, always know that it is what you are needing at that particular time and that the medicine is working on very deep levels, even if you are not aware of it.
  • What happens after an Ayahuasca ceremony?
    An Ayahuasca journey normally lasts between 4 and 8 hours after which you will typically go to sleep. When you wake up, you will probably want to spend some time processing what you experienced and for that reason, we recommend that you leave the next day open and not schedule any activities such as work, social outings, etc. You will, however, be 100% fine and will be able to drive home completely safely. In fact, you will likely feel amazing! It’s important to note, however, that while the actual experience of Ayahuasca may show you many insights, it is the days of your life that follow that are the “real ceremony” in that you’ll need to act upon what you’ve learned to improve your quality of life if that’s what you desire. In other words, Ayahuasca may for example show you some of your self-sabotage habits, but in the end, it will be you who will have to practice what you learned to integrate the benefits of the lessons into your life.
  • Can anyone take part in an Ayahuasca ceremony?
    Anyone over the age of 18 may take part in an Ayahuasca ceremony, however, there are some medical and psychological conditions which may not be suitable for this kind of treatment. When you sign up for a retreat, we will email you a medical form which you’ll need to fill out and send back to us. The facilitator will review this form and then set up a further online screening interview session with you to determine if ones participation in the retreat is recommendable and suitable. Unfortunately pregnant women are not allowed to take part in Ayahuasca ceremonies.
  • What should I do to prepare for an Ayahuasca experience?
    Proper preparation is crucial to ensure you get the most out of the medicine. When you sign up for a retreat, we will email you a form with guidelines on what to eat and not to eat leading up to the ceremony, as well as suggestions on how to prepare physically and mentally for it. The more disciplined you are, the deeper and more rewarding your experience will be. Our preparation guidelines package includes information on: Releasing of all expectations Having the right attitude and reason for taking the medicine Eating healthily and the right foods prior to the ceremony Ceasing of certain high-vibration activities leaving up to the ceremony Engaging in meditation, yoga or other mind/body/spirit practices
  • What should I bring to a retreat?
    We will email you a guideline of what to bring once you sign up.
CONTACT

CONTACT

Enquiries

For any questions about our retreats, please fill out the form below and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.

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Disclaimer

This website hosts articles written by a variety of contributors. Each contributor assumes full responsibility for the reliability and accuracy of the information contained in each such article, and this website and its editorial board specifically disclaim any responsibility for the content of any article by any of its contributors. In addition, over time new scientific and medical information becomes available, laws and legal enforcement polices change, and laws and legal enforcement policies governing the use of substances discussed on this website vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. The reader is advised to carefully consult appropriate sources for the most current information on scientific, medical, and legal issues. Material on this website is not intended to and should not be used as a substitute for personal consultation with knowledgeable physicians and attorneys.

 

The information on this website is offered for informational use only, and is not intended for use in diagnosing any disease or condition or prescribing any treatment whatsoever. The information on this website is not intended to encourage the use of ayahuasca or any other ethnobotanical. The website specifically cautions against the use of ayahuasca or any other ethnobotanical in violation of the law, without appropriate professional guidance and monitoring, or without careful personal evaluation of potential risks and hazards. This website and its editorial board specifically disclaims any liability, loss, injury, or damage incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and application of any of the contents posted herein.

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